Frequently Asked Questions

All of the dates can be found on the Schedule. The Randolph Street Market festival is located at 1341 W Randolph Street and inside the beautiful Beaux Arts Plumbers Hall at 1340 West Washington. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR MAY-SEPT, RAIN OR SHINE AND INDOOR ONLY OCT-APRIL! Click here for directions and map.

Randolph Street Market events are not subsidized by the city, state or any other organization. The admission fee is the only way this event happens as the costs are exorbitant — admission spread over lots of people pays the overhead for the venue, security, insurance, and staff necessary to bring this world class market to life! The vendors pay as little as possible so they can keep their pricing as low as possible, giving the customer the lowest pricing and best deals anywhere in the metropolitan area. Our admission price is $10 if you buy online and $12 at the gate for the May-September markets. Admission for the October-April markets is $10 online and at the gate. Students can pay discounted rates online and Seniors pay $5 at the gate with mention of discount.

Certainly, the outdoor exhibit space at the Market is all flat, and there are ramps into the Plumbers Hall building. Plus elevators and special bathroom facilities make the Randolph Street Market easy for anyone to enjoy!

The entire outdoor area of the market is open for most* dogs; your furry friend must be on a leash and will no doubt be delighted with the delicious scraps of food to be discovered amongst the several acres of outdoor antique and collectible treasures. No pets allowed inside the Plumbers Hall Union building. (Only small dogs can be carried inside the building).

*Management has the right to refuse entry to any persons and pets.

And if it’s a hot one, be kind and leave Fifi at home along with the pet crocodile, who may spot a vintage handbag that used to be a relative and get upset!

Asphalt temperature and the outdoor temperature are two very different things. When the outside air temperature is 77 degrees, the asphalt the sun is 125 degrees. You can fry an egg at 131 degrees. Just imagine how your dog feels as you drag him along to the farmers market or outdoor festival being held on asphalt.

From PetMD: If you walk your dog on lead, keep in mind that asphalt can get very hot during the summer. In fact, it can get hot enough to burn a dog’s pads, causing him pain for days. You might want to do only short walks early in the morning or later in the evening, when the temperatures are lower. Before taking your dog for a walk, check the ground for hotness with one of your own hands or bare feet. If you can’t keep your hand (or foot) on the ground for more than three seconds, it’s probably too hot to walk your furry friend. Dogs who are older or overweight, have a thick coat or have a pushed-in nose (such as bulldogs, Boston terriers and pugs) are especially at risk of overheating.

There’s nothing more American than cash — EVERYONE prefers it! You can bargain better if you have cash and dealers love it when you have the exact amount so bring lots of small bills. And if you don’t have cash but have an ATM card, we have two on-site cash stations. As for the credit cards, some dealers take them but many don’t so be prepared.

You will not be walking over corn stalks, gravel, manure or rocks. You will be walking on beautifully tended asphalt and our indoor space has nice floors (terrazzo). Wear tennis shoes, sandles, platforms or jazz slippers.